Knowledge, attitude and practices of COVID-19 among medical laboratory professionals in Zambia.

COVID-19 attitude knowledge medical laboratory professional practices

Journal

African journal of laboratory medicine
ISSN: 2225-2002
Titre abrégé: Afr J Lab Med
Pays: South Africa
ID NLM: 101603205

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
2021
Historique:
received: 21 09 2020
accepted: 06 01 2021
entrez: 6 4 2021
pubmed: 7 4 2021
medline: 7 4 2021
Statut: epublish

Résumé

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a novel disease that has spread to nearly every country worldwide. Medical laboratory professionals are key in the fight against COVID-19 as they provide confirmatory diagnosis for subsequent management and mitigation of the disease. This study investigated the knowledge, attitude and practices of COVID-19 and their predictors among medical laboratory personnel in Zambia. We conducted a cross-sectional study among medical laboratory professionals in Zambia from 10 to 29 June 2020. Data were collected using Google Forms and exported to Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23 for statistical analysis. Independent predictors of COVID-19 knowledge and practices were determined. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) are reported. A total of 208 medical laboratory professionals, 58.2% male, participated in the study. The majority of respondents had good knowledge (84.1%) and practice (75.0%) regarding COVID-19. Predictors of good knowledge included having a bachelor's degree (AOR: 5.0, CI: 1.13-22.19) and having prior COVID-19 related training (AOR: 8.83, CI: 2.03-38.44). Predictors of good practice included having a master's or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) qualification (AOR: 5.23, CI: 1.15-23.87) and having prior COVID-19 related training (AOR: 14.01, CI: 6.47-30.36). Our findings revealed that medical laboratory professionals in Zambia have good knowledge regarding COVID-19. There is need for continuous professional development to ensure that medical laboratory professionals are well informed and aware of best practices to aid in curbing the pandemic.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a novel disease that has spread to nearly every country worldwide. Medical laboratory professionals are key in the fight against COVID-19 as they provide confirmatory diagnosis for subsequent management and mitigation of the disease.
OBJECTIVE OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the knowledge, attitude and practices of COVID-19 and their predictors among medical laboratory personnel in Zambia.
METHODS METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional study among medical laboratory professionals in Zambia from 10 to 29 June 2020. Data were collected using Google Forms and exported to Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23 for statistical analysis. Independent predictors of COVID-19 knowledge and practices were determined. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) are reported.
RESULTS RESULTS
A total of 208 medical laboratory professionals, 58.2% male, participated in the study. The majority of respondents had good knowledge (84.1%) and practice (75.0%) regarding COVID-19. Predictors of good knowledge included having a bachelor's degree (AOR: 5.0, CI: 1.13-22.19) and having prior COVID-19 related training (AOR: 8.83, CI: 2.03-38.44). Predictors of good practice included having a master's or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) qualification (AOR: 5.23, CI: 1.15-23.87) and having prior COVID-19 related training (AOR: 14.01, CI: 6.47-30.36).
CONCLUSION CONCLUSIONS
Our findings revealed that medical laboratory professionals in Zambia have good knowledge regarding COVID-19. There is need for continuous professional development to ensure that medical laboratory professionals are well informed and aware of best practices to aid in curbing the pandemic.

Identifiants

pubmed: 33821204
doi: 10.4102/ajlm.v10i1.1403
pii: AJLM-10-1403
pmc: PMC8007986
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Pagination

1403

Informations de copyright

© 2021. The Authors.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships that may have influenced the writing of this article.

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Auteurs

Adon Chawe (A)

Laboratory Department, St. Francis Mission Hospital, Katete, Zambia.

Ruth L Mfune (RL)

Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Michael Chilufya School of Medicine, Copperbelt University, Ndola, Zambia.

Paul M Syapiila (PM)

Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Michael Chilufya School of Medicine, Copperbelt University, Ndola, Zambia.

Sharon D Zimba (SD)

Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Chikankata College of Biomedical Sciences, Chikankata, Zambia.

Pipina A Vlahakis (PA)

Department of Basic Science, Faculty of Medicine, Michael Chilufya School of Medicine, Copperbelt University, Ndola, Zambia.

Samson Mwale (S)

Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tropical Diseases Research Centre, Ndola, Zambia.

Kapambwe Mwape (K)

Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Michael Chilufya School of Medicine, Copperbelt University, Ndola, Zambia.

Memory Chirambo-Kalolekesha (M)

Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Michael Chilufya School of Medicine, Copperbelt University, Ndola, Zambia.

Misheck Chileshe (M)

Laboratory Department, Mary Begg Health Services, Ndola, Zambia.

Joseph Mutale (J)

Laboratory Department, Kabompo District Hospital, Kabompo, Zambia.

Tobela Mudenda (T)

Department of Pathology, Ndola Teaching Hospital, Ndola, Zambia.

Grace Manda (G)

Laboratory Department, Kalomo District Hospital, Kalomo, Zambia.

Victor Daka (V)

Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Michael Chilufya School of Medicine, Copperbelt University, Ndola, Zambia.

Classifications MeSH